Wire reel support, rack, or stand



NOV. 14, 1939. o; LEWIS WIRE REEL SUPPORT, RACK, 0R STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 9, 1936 R. 5 M Mm E J 3 0 w |1Q|||1j r m 7 M 2/ 7 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 14, 1939. O LEw|$ WIRE REEL SUPPORT, RACK, 0R STAND Filed Nov. 9,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WED 0 LfW/S ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 NITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a device peculiarly adapted to the electricaltrade and utilities in general, usually termed reel support, rack, orstand, for easily handling a heavy standard Wire reel, or plurality ofreels, commonly supplied by the trade, particularly while Wire is beingunreeled therefrom, that can be cheaply manufactured and which willperform its functions in an efficient manner. It is simply constructedof few parts, is mechanically sturdy, comparatively li ht in weight andis easily operated. The device, with wire reels supported within thestructure,'can be mounted on the end of a motor truck, or othertransportation means, and while the truck is stationary or in movementon the road Way, a wire strand, or strands, under constant tension canbe unreeled from its spindle; or the invention can be demounted and beused stationary on the terrain, and wire under tension can be pulledfrom a supported reel contained within the structure; therefore theinvention may be termed a demountable wire reel support, rack or stand.

It is now common practice, especially in stringing wires on poles, tofreely unreel wire from the spindle, anchor the free end of the same toa supporting bracket or insulator, lay the loose wire, usually onconsecutive cross arm supports, and then employ a means to pull the wiretaut as is commonly done by block and tackle or motive power. v

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the charactermentioned above to easily pick. up, support, transport, and handle heavywire or cable reels for the purpose of unreeling wires or cablestherefrom.

Another object is to furnish a reel support for unreeling wire and atthe same time maintain a drag or braking effect, on one or more of thereels, each reel rotatable independent of each other and containedwithin the structure, so that the unreeled wire is under a constanttension or is taut.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which, when inuse. eliminates the necessary labor and material now needed to item siona wire strand on a series of poles or supports and also to prevent unduesagging of the wire strands between its successive adjacent supportswhile "the said wire is being strung on a series of poles or supports.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a support for astandard wire reel, or a plurality of reels, commonly supplied by thetrade, together with tensioning device, which co-acts with said standardreel, or plurality of reels, to maintain constant tension on the wirebeing unreeled therefrom.

Another object is to provide a simple wire reel carrier capable ofeasily engaging and raising heavy wire reels off the floor level whennecessary and then lowering the reels to the normal ground level forpurposes of disengaging the reels from the carrier. Standard wire reels,with their wire strands spoolecl thereon, areexceptionally bulky andheavy. It is desirable therefore, to provide a reel support or rackwhich is quickly adjustable to receive reels of any required size, bothas to width and diameter, to raise the same above the floor level, torotatably support the same and permit the empty, or partially empty,reel to be lowered again to ground level and be disengaged from itssupport, without undue physical exertion on the part of the operator, ina manner not requiring time consuming operations.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, in the preferred form of the"device, more than one reel is indicated mounted thereon. However, it isapparent that each rotatable reel is independently acted upon by thetensioning device, each reel freely rotating independently of each.other; therefore, the device is suitable for use with only one reelmounted thereon.

The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found tobe efficient and successful.

The invention possesses other features, objects and advantages designedto attain the purposes mentioned herein, and consists of novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing by dotted lines wire reels mounted withinthe structure.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 'is a side view of the structure in a mounted position ontransportation, with dotted lines indicating the device in a loweredposition.

Fig. 4 is a side view with reel supported within, demounted on theterrain.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing tensioning device handle andfriction rod mounted on the slotted cross member.

Fig. 6 is a detailed side view showing the method of mounting theprotective bumper.

The invention in the preferred comprises substantially a rectangularsupporting frame 1. consisting of channel sides 2, and end members 3 and4, made of a suitable material or htweight metal, such as duraluminum,bolted together at their respective ends, reenforcing plates, l5, shownin triangular form, being fastened by bolts or welding to the top andbottom flanges of the channel sides and end members at the outer end ofthe frame to strengthen the structure as shown.

Center brace 6, is secured by bolts to end members 3 and 4, preferablyin their geometric centers and substantially divides the rectangularframe into two smaller rectangles.

Parallel shaft hangers 1, provided with a plurality of shaft holes 8,normally extending downward, are bolted to channel side members 2, andcenter brace 6, by bolts 1a, and comprise the supports or journal forreel shaft 9, which is passed thru selected corresponding shaft hangeropenings and extends transversely from one side of the frame I, to theother, supporting reel l0, rotatably mounted thereon. Shaft 9, isprovided at one end with shaft handle made integral therewith. Slottedcross members 5, welded to the top flange portions or side members 2,are adapted to receive horizontally movable friction rods it, said rodends extending thru slotted openings 5a in cross members, are threadedto receive fastening nuts I 3, adjustable to the face of said crossmembers to maintain said rods at any desired positions in relation towire reel Iii.

Feet i4, comprising substantially, relatively short channel pieces I8,containing a plurality of perforations IS in the webs at one end, theopposite end being provided with fixed open jaws 23 and 2|, with curveportion 22, made integral therewith, are detachably mounted within thechannels of side members 2, by bolts I6, and end of center brace member6.

At two adjacent corners of the frame structure are secured leg sockets23, angularly positioned thereon, adapted to receive stiff legs 24, toform a supporting reel stand when the device is used demounted on theterrain. The upper portions of stiff legs 24, adapted .to be inserted inleg sockets 23, are provided with a plurality of openings 25, to receiveleg pins extending thru openings 26, in leg socket 23, to secure leg 24,within leg socket 23.

The drag or braking of the wire reel I0, or reels, supported within thedevice is accomplished, upon each reel acting independently, by causingthe freely rotatable reel Ill, to move axially inward on shaft 9, sothat the outer face of flange 29, is firmly forced against friction rodl2, adjustably positioned against flange 29, of reel EU. The inwardaxial movement of freely rotatable wire reel 0, on shaft 9, results fromthe pressure exerted on the outer face of flange 34, of said reel whenanti-friction roller 3|, is forcibly contacted thereon.

Anti-friction roller 3|, is mounted on roller bracket 32, said bracketbeing secured to spring leafs 33, by bolts passing thru openingsprovided in the base of said bracket and corresponding openings in saidspring leafs 33 and 34. Spring leafs 33 and 34, bolted together by saidbracket bolts extending thru the roller bracket and said leafs, with thebracket and anti-friction roller attached as above mentioned, aremounted edgewise on top flange of channel side members 2, by means of ashackle bolt 35 passed thru the eye of spring leaf 34, and said shacklebolt pivots said spring leaf. The end portion of spring leaf 34,opposite the eye end is fashioned as the handle 34, adapted to beoperatable within the opening adjacent to to, in the extended portion ofslotted cross member 5.

Substantially near the handle portion of spring leaf 34, is provided anopening 36, which constitutes a chain hole, one portion of which isslotted, adaptable to receive a link of tension chain 31, one end beinganchored by chain hook 38, to cross member 5. A safety chain 39, withchain hook 40 attached to its free end, is securely mounted on the webof channel side member 2, to engage a portion of a support furnished bythe shaft of pulley 44, on the end of motor truck frame to prevent theaccidental lowering of frame I when mounted thereon.

Frame hook 4|, rigidly mounted on end member 3, at substantially itscenter portion, supplies a means to engage frame I, by cable 42, whenmounted on motor truck 43, said truck being provided with a cable winchto reel in said cable, and raise said frame, by reeling in cable 42 onthe winch, said cable passing over and being supported by pulley 44,mounted on end of motor truck 43.

It has been found that frame I is sometimes damaged when cable 42 pullsthe said frame too close to the pulley supporting shaft mounted on theend of the truck 43; therefore, it is sometimes advisable to furnish ameans to protect the frame from damage by installing bumper 41, onchannel side member 2, substantially close to the portion near the legsockets 23, of said frame as shown on Figure 6. ed on bumper brackets46, said brackets being secured to the web of channel member 2, at theportion substantially near the triangular strengthening plates.

When using the device mounted on a vehicle, such as the end of a motortruck, feet l4, of the device, engage feet bracket 45, suitably securedto the said vehicle, cable 42, the free end being fastened to frame hook4|, the opposite end being reeled on a vehicle winch, either hand orpower operated, raises or lowers the device, by reeling the cable overguiding sheeve or pulley 44, suitably mounted on end of vehicle 43, ontoits winch, over a standard wire reel Hi, to a position whereby shaft 9can be inserted thru shaft hanger opening 8, transversely thru the coreof said wire reel 13, to the opposite side of the frame of the devicethus engaging the wire reel within the said device. Cable 42 being woundon the vehicle winch, passing over the cable guide pulley 44, mounted onthe end of the vehicle, raises the wire reel support and the wire reelto any desired position above the floor or terrain level.

The device may be provided with a bumper 41, as shown in Figure 6, sothat the upper portion of raised support frame does not violentlycontact the guiding pulley sup-port shaft 44.

The freely rotatable wire reel is now ready to pay out the wire spooledthereon, the free end of the wire is anchored to a support, usually across arm insulator or bracket, or any other suitable anchorage, thevehicle with the device mounted thereon is then moved away from the wireanchorage causing the wire to be unspooled and wire reel to freelyrotate on its axis, shaft 9 on the device. As the wire freely unreels itbecomes necessary to check the rotation of the wire reel, or itsunreeling speed, so that the slack in the wire is taken up and the wirewill become taut and not unduly sag between its successive adjacentsupports due to its own weight. In order to eliminate the undue sag, andto control the rotation of reel in, handle portion of the resilienttensioning member 34 pivoted on the device is moved inward and forcesthe antifriction member Bumper 41 is suitably mount- 3! secured theretoby bolts not shown, against the side of reel flange 39, thereby pushingaxially inward the reel It, so that the inward face of flange 29, isforced in contact with friction rod i2, thereby controlling the rotationof the wire reel, which with decelerated rotation causes the unreeledWire to become taut.

This same operation of causing the unreeled wire to become taut isperformed when the wire reel support containing a wire reel mountedthereon is adapted with the adjustable stiff legs 24 to be useddemounted on the terrain when disconnected from the conveying vehicle.In this case the resilient tension member 34 is adjusted, while wire isbeing manually pulled from the freely rotatable reel, at which time itbecomes necessary to properly maintain the anti-friction rooler 3!, in aposition against reel II], by passing tensioning chain 31, thru chainhole 36, and securing one link of said chain in the slotted portion ofsaid chain hole, by its tension members 33 and 34, against the side ofthe rotating reel. This causes the deceleration of the rotation of thewire reel, whereby the slack in the unreeled wire is taken up, therebyeliminating wire sag. The tensioning of the wire is then maintained atany degree desired by adjusting chain 31 in chain hole 36, as mentionedabove, in the opening or chain hole of the handle portion of the tensionmember, as shown by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings. When the wirereel rotates on its shaft 9, the tensioning member, being resilient,maintains the anti-friction member 3!, against the outer face of wheelflange 29, even though the reel does not run accurately on its shaft 9,which sometimes causes high and low positions on the rotating flangeface.

Having described my invention, I claim the following:

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of avehicle; a wire reel supporting frame detachably mounted to the vehicle;hangers carried by said frame; a removable reel shaft supported by saidhangers; wire reels rotatably mounted on said shaft; parallel frictionrods each adjacent to and coacting with one side of each wire reel;resilient brake members pivoted on said frame each coacting with theside of a wire reel opposite to the side of the wire reel which coactswith the friction rod; and means to maintain said brake members againstone side of said wire reels, said means comprising a chain passingthrough an opening in each of said brake members, a link of each chaincoacting with the side of each brake member adjacent to each of saidopenings, to maintain each of said brake members in engagement with theside of the wire reel adjacent thereto and to maintain the opposite sideof said wire reel in engagement with one of the friction rods.

FRED O. LEWIS.

